Means for automatically controlling traffic



Feb. 23 1926. 1,574,606

H. cooKE, JR

MEANS FOR AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLING TRAFFIC Filed July 2 1924 '3 Sheets-Sheet 1 NVENTR Harry Cooke e. J0

4 TTURNEYS Feb. 23 1'926.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 lllllllllllllllllllllllll H. COOKE. JR MEANS FOR AU'OMATICALLY CONTROLLING TRAFFIC Filed July 2, 1924 Illillllillllllll Illlll i ||||||||||l|||| llllllllllllllllllll j nvt/Emmi? Harry C0076@ 7 WINESSES TTHNEYS Feb. 23 ,1926.

H. COOKE, JR

MEANS FOR AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLING TRAFFIC 1924 3 Sheets-Shee't 5 Filed' July 2 i /NVENTR Ear@ 0007136 WIM/8858 ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 23, 19,26. l

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY COOKE, JR., OF GARFIELD, NEW JERSEY.

MEANS FOR AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLING- TRAFFIC'.

Application led July 2, 1924. Serial No. 723,766.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, HARRY COOKE, Jr., a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Garfield, in the county of Bergen and State of New Jersey, have inthat the same may be caused to operate at angles to Fig. 1; l

predetermined intervals.

YIt is a further object of the invention to construct the mechanism in such a manner that the time intervals during which4 the same is in any given position, may be varied dependent upon traic conditions at the location of the signal.

It is a further object of the invention to construct a new and improved mechanism which in addition to giving a visual signal, will give an audible signal in advance of said visual signal.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a new and improved mechanism which after it has been started, will be automatic in its operation so long as such operation is continued.

With the above and other objects in view, reference is had to the accompanying drawf sings, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a device constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 1s a similar view vtaken at right Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

, Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of the circuit employed; l

Fig. 5 is a detail vertical sectional view showing theseveral parts in an operative position different from that in which they are shown in Fig. 2;

l Fig. 6 is a similar viewshowing the several parts in a different operative position from that in which they are shown in Figs.

2and 5;

Fig. 7 is a detail horizontal sectional view taken on the line 7 7 of Fig. l;

Fig. 8 is a detail horizontal sectional view taken on the line 8 8 of Fig. 5.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the device comprises a standard consisting of a base or housing 10, and a second housing projecting from the upper wall thereof and designated by the reference numeral 1l. Mounted for rotary movement upon the upper end of the upper housing 11, there is a lamp box or housing 12 provided with vari-colored lenses designated by the reference numeral 13, and suitably carried above the lamp housing 12 there is a Stop and Go signal designated by the reference numeral 111 and which is of the conventional cross-form in plan. As more clearly shown in Fig. 2, the lamp housing 12 is preferably mounted on roller` bearings 15 and is adapted to turn relatively to the housing 11 in a manner to be hereinafter more specifically described.

Mounted in the lower housing 12, there is an electric motor16, and such electric motor 16 comprises a shaft 17, the free end of which is preferably mounted in a bearing 18. This shaft 17 carries a worm gear 19. As more clearly shown in Fig. 1, the worm gear 19 meshes with a gear 20, which gear is mounted in a suitable bearing 21, and the gear 2O .carries a smaller gear 22 which in turn meshes with a gear 23. This gear 23 meshes with a gear 24: carried by a shaft 25, and the gear 24 in turn meshes with ,a gear 26. The gear 26 heretofore mentioned is carried by a shaft 27 mounted in a step bearing 28. Mountedyon the upper end of the shaft 27, there is a plate 30, and such plate carries the pin 32 of a Geneva movement 29, to be hereinafter referred to.

The gear 26 carries a cam 33 and such jects into the housing 10. The lower end of I this shaft 35 carries a star member 36 of the heretofore mentioned Geneva movement. This shaft is connected at tsfupper end, as atf`37, to the lamp housing 12, and as the cam is adapted to complete an electric cir- 7;

Geneva movement is operated through the Y movement of the gear 26, the lamp housing is given a step-by-step rotary movement.

From the above construction, it is obvious that as the motor is operated, through the medium of the train of gearing described,l theGeneva movement will serveto rotate the shaft 35 intermittently, and thus expose the vari-colored lenses alternately in the same direction, it being understood that a suitable lamp is employed in the lamp housing 12 for illuminating said lenses.

Carried by the shaft 35, there is a plate 50, and such plate has a plurality of cam members 5l on its upper face. These cam members 51 are adapted to engage a roller 52 carried by a plunger 53 slidably mounted in a suitable bracket 54. The upper end of this plunger 53 is connected to a rocking arm 55, which in turn is connected to a switch arm 56 by means of a double spring 57, which permits of, movement of the rocking arm 55 independent of movement of the switch member 56. T his 'switch member 56 is adapted to contact singly with the terminals 58 ofa rheostat switch 59, for the purpose of controlling the speed of the motor 16.

The reference numeral 60 designates an adjustable screw member passed through one side of the housing 1l, and 61 designates a similar screw passed through-the opposite side of the housing 1lb These screws are so positioned as to engage the switch arm 56 and limit its movement either to the right or left in Fig. 2. When the adjusting' screws 60 and 61 are in the position shown in Fig. 6, it isapparent that the switch arm 56 may be moved the full extent of the terminals 58 of the rheostat switfch 59, thus permitting the motor to run at full speed. lVhen, however, the -adjustable screws 60 and 61 are positioned as shown in Fig. 5, the motor is not permitted to run at full speed. It will, therefore, be seen that by adjustment of the adjustable screws 60 and 61, the speed of the motor may be determined, and, consequently, the device is capable of adjustment to meet various traflic' conditions, since the switch arm 56 is operated from -the cam members 51 carried by the shaft 35 and operated through the Geneva movement from the motor 16.

As heretofore mentioned, the switch 34 is closed by means of a cam 33 carried by the gear 26, and this switch 34 controls a 'circuit for an audible signal, such as a bell, 70, or the like, shown in Fig. 1.

In Fig. 4 is shown the wiring diagram, and in such ligure the reference numerals 8O and 81 designate the main lead wires, the main lead wire being connected to the first terminal 58 of the rheostat switch 59 and the lead wire 81 being connected 'to one of the terminals of the motor 16. The switch arm 56 is connected by means of a conductor 82 to the other terminal of the motor 16. The bell circuit is designated by the reference numeral 88, and is connected as at 84, to the conductor 85 which passes through" the lamp in the lamp housing and designated by the reference character A in Fig. 4. The other terminal of the bell circuit is designated by the reference numeral 86, and this terminal 86 is in the conductor 85, which in turn is connected, as at 87, to the main wire 8l. By this arrangement of wiring, it is obvious that the vrheostat switch 59' controls the speed of the motor 16 and the switch 34E controls the ringing of the audible signal 70, and the lamp A in the lamp housing 12 is at all times illuminated.

From the foregoing it is apparent that the present invention provides a new and improved device for controlling traffic where the device is placed at street intersections, and, furthermore, that the device is automatic in its operation, and, by adjustment, may be varied as to the periods of operations and traiic movement.

lVhat is claimed is:

l. A traffic regulating apparatus comprising distinctive visual signals, driven mechanism connected to the signals and operable to intermittently move the signals to display them in alternate directions, continuously operating means for operating the driven mechanism to intermittently move the signals, control mechanism operatively connected between the `driven mechanism and the continuously operating means for .speeding up the continuously operating means during the time the signals are being moved and for slowing down the continuously operating means when said sig-c nals are at rest.

2. A traflic regulating apparatus comprising distinctive visual signals, driven mechanism connected to the signals and operable to intermittently move the signals to display them in alternate directions, continuously operating means for operating the driven. mechanism to intermittently move the signals, control mechanism operatively connected between the driven mechanism and the continuously operating means for speed- `ing up the continuously operating means during the time the signalsare being moved and for slowing down the continuously operating means when said signals are at rest, and regulating means for regulating the normal speed of operation of said continuously operating means.

3. A traliic regulating apparatus comprising distinctive visual signals, driven mechanism connected to the signals and operable to intermittently move the signals to display them in alternate directions, a continuously operating electric mot-or for operating the drivenV mechanism to intermittently move the signals, motor control vmechanism operated by said driven mechanism for accelerating the motor during the time the signals are being moved to display positions and for decelerating said motor when the signals are at rest.-

4. A traffic regulating apparatus comprising distinctive visual signals, driven mechanism connected to the signals and operable to intermittently move the signals to displayI them in alternate directions, a continuously operating electric motor for' operating the driven mechanism to intermittently move the signals, motor control mechanism operated by said driven mechanism for accelerating the motor during the time the signals are being moved to display positions and for del celerating said motor when the signals are nals are being moved to display positions' and for decelerating said motor when theI vsignals are at rest, motor control mecha nism including a rheostat having a morahhl switch arm, means for effecting the more ment of said switch arm 1n the motor accelerating operation, andmeans for effecting the movement of the switch arm in the motor decelerating operation.

G. A traffic regulating apparatus comprising a rotatably mounted shaft, distinctive signals arranged radially on said .shaft .euh-- stantially at a right angle with resport 1.-.; each other, a continuously operating electric motor, motion transmission means between the shaft of the motor and the first meuA tioned shaft for intermittently turning said first mentioned shaft, a rheostat electricallyY connected to the windings of said electriv motor, said rheostat having a switch arm which ismounted for movement in contar( with the resistance coil of said rheostat, cams carried by said first mentioned shaft, said'cams coacting with a portion of said switch arm for moving said switch arm in one direction to accelerate the motor in tinl movement of the signals, and means for returning the switch arm to decelerate th:x motor when the signals are at rest.

HARRY COOKE, Jn. 

